Sudden Manhattan

Actress turned first-time feature writer/director Adrienne Shelly proves there's truth in the truism that it's generally a bad idea to act in your own film: Things get away from you. The picture's lush cinematography -- just for example -- doesn't serve what passes for a plot: a series of zany, occasionally hilarious set pieces through which broke, single, jobless flake Donna (Shelly) attempts to sort out her life. Louise Lasser earns the occasional giggle as a cranky clairvoyant, but even at its best, the picture doesn't live up to its conspicuous (and wildly assorted) inspirations. They include Woody Allen, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Lucille Ball, though Shelly r...